snakeroot

Using high magnification and mirror lockup, but timing is difficult. I'm

taking closeups (or trying) of hummingbirds on a natural perch with

pocketwizards, but the click of the mirror locking up scares the birds off

their perch. The mirror unlocks after 30 seconds without an exposure (probably

a safety feature for the sensor). Anyone with a suggestion for a work-around?

 

The birds perch only occasionally and appear not to be able to adapt to the

sound of the click of the mirror lockup. Using an EOS 1Ds MarkII, 500mm F4

with 1.4 extender and two 25 mm extension tubes approximately 6 feet from the

perch.

Sounds like a horribly frustrating experience. Professional photographers shouldn't have their images copied illegally, I believe that's the concensus here.

 

Doesn't help you any. Frustrating.

 

How about yoga? Sometimes I'll go down to the beach and pound sand too. Anything to de-stress.

Failure to bathe for 3 weeks might do the trick.

go digital

Kim, great shot. Can you tell us did you have Al Servo mode on, multiple exposures, autofocus, spot metering??? Details PLEASE!

I agree, I have the 1.4 and 2.0 TC extenders, and use the 1.4 far more often.

 

I would still own both because there are some situations I'm willing to compromise using the 2x for the extra reach with my 500 f/4. Nature stuff mostly.

Your best photographic equipment are your eyes. If you have the time to use them and the energy to expend, adapt them to the equipment that you have.

 

Better identify situations and shots in areas you lack equipment capability. Allow others to substitute their equipment for what you wish you had. Have them email you thumbnails.

24-105L rocks

The problem I was having appears to be connecting the PW to the pre-release cord. A hot shoe attachment for the PW without using the pre-release has solved the problem, (mostly).

Working better with the PW on the hot shoe and no pre-release cable, but still no TTL function.

 

Looking now at Dynalite 1000wi setup with 2040 flash heads. It has PW functionality, and I see there is simply a learning curve. My shutter speed is at a useable speed, though still some lag.

 

TTL metering is not possible with PW's, correct?

It has to do with camera calibration and lag time between the flash and the camera. I was able to get useable exposures in manual mode after calibrating my camera and 580's, but the shutter speed to do this is ridiculously slow. 3 full seconds, anything faster results in severe under-exposure.

 

It may have to do with the pre-release cord I bought for the Mark II. I plan on putting the TX PW directly on the hot shoe of the camera and not use the pre-realease cord to see if I can get the shutter speed up.

ATN produces a Gen 4 nightvision scope with an adapter for SLR's,

though inconveniently sized. Macro lenses are advised for direct

photography of the photoelectric screen of the nightvision scope.

 

My understanding is that a Gen 4 scope has superb resolution and may

actually be adaptable to night digital photography. Anyone with

experience? Some postings of sample photos would be interesting

stuff.

 

Pricey units though, those Gen 4's.

Too few potential local members?

Thanks Brad, I'll try what you say and post results. You still have to use manual mode on your 580 with your setup, right?

I'm learning there is variability in individual cameras, though you sound blessed in this regard.

 

Luckily my camera has a lag, but a reproduceable lag, but my shutter speed is very slow after equalization of the camera. I've been able to get useable exposures, which under manual mode seems adjustable. Somewhat difficult for the nature photography I plan, but hey, who said this would be easy?

 

I didn't quite understand your setup. My camera is set to a MultiMAX on transmit mode through a pre-relase cable (not a pc cable), and the 580 is set to manual mode and connected via a hot shoe cable to the receiving MultiMAX. Can you explain again what setup you have had success with?

Apparently a "camera equalization" problem. Ho hum, no upfront discussion of that issue from Pocketwizard. Yawn. I would think that company would address that issue with a major vendor like Canon.

Anybody had success using PW's with off camera 580EX's? My one

equipment purchase I regret. I would advise not to buy PW's for off

camera flash usage with the 580. If you want to get it for camera

triggering, seems to work ok, but unless I am doing something wrong,

PW's and 580's just don't mesh.

I have my multiMAX PW's hooked up to my camera (EOS 1DS MarkII) and

two 580EX flashes. The connection is valid, the 580's are set to

manual mode with full output, tried multiple zoom settings. The

shutter goes off with each triggering of the PW's and the 580's go

off simultaneously with a blinding flash (I can barely type), but

every single shot is underexposed.

 

The only way to get an exposed shot is to use an automatic mode on

the camera and let the shutter sit open in this dim light for 20

seconds. The 580's seem to make no difference at all!

 

I don't understand this at all. The 580's are hooked to the PW

receiver via an ST-E2 and I tried hooking it to one of the 580's

directly using it as a master. Both 580's fire just fine.

 

Sorry I don't have a meter yet. I am 6 feet from my target and the

580's are halfway. I must be screwing something up.

Understood.

 

Are there other flash systems besides the 580EX that can offer high speed sync off camera?

I've invested in PW MultiMAX's and would really like to understand what was said in this thread. What do you mean by "x-sync" speed? What off-camera cabling are you using for your 580's? My understanding is that the only option for this is the Paramount PW-MHSF1. Is that what you are using?

 

It's not possible to shoot at 1/1000th of a second with 580EX off camera controlled with PW's?

 

I understood the concept of a dual curtain exposure in digital SLR's, but the explanation seemed to pivot around one statement: "Speedlites (like the 580EX) can work in a "high speed sync" mode, but to do so they emit a long burst of flash light while the "slit" of the focal plane shutter is going past the film/sensor. The Speedlite can only do this when it is fully connected to the camera, however."

 

Um, without appearing stupid, why? There must be compatibility issues. If the 580EX can do it on camera, why not off? Can the 580EX function in high sync mode with the ST-E2? Are there manual settings on the PW's being overlooked?

 

Are there other flash systems that can operate with digital SLR's in high sync mode with PW's? I like the 580's but if there are other choices for high speed sync with PW's, please post.

 

Thanks.

Heather, obviously you have never hunted. A blind can be something as simple as a few tree branches erected to obscure the outline of a shape. The simple wooden box could be temporarily placed in the crotch of a limb and secured with twine. Only the glass need show. No building on my part, except the wooden box in my shop.

 

I agree with the boat on the water rule, imagine adult osprey and their alarm with seeing an approaching motorboat. (Especially if crazy Bill was in it.)

 

It's a different story entirely on land, especially in an area prescouted and prepared before nesting season. Darkness would be key, to both setting the camera, (the EF 500mm has a preset function which will be quite useful), and removing the camera after shooting during the day.

 

I've done similar setups prior to hunting season for many species of game animals, getting much closer than 60 yards. I've never tried getting close to animals on open water in a boat.

 

There is no law with a 60 foot rule, only the vague federal reference referred to above. The only disturbance the birds will notice is the click of the shutter.

 

I really doubt they taste like chicken anyways. If they're anything like eider, they would taste like snails and seaweed.

 

Regards.

Name calling further identifies you as an individual clearly on the fringe of sanity.

"totally sure ( and by sure I mean 110%"

 

I think that except for the deluded mathmeticians amongst us, this is impossible.

 

Even the largest stretch of the law, what I contemplate cannot be interpreted as baiting a protected species for the purpose of taking them.

 

All greenies are the same, typing away against human use of nature on their keyboards manufactured from the same petroleum reserves that I use. The kettle calling the frying pan black syndrome, mixed in with a little funny math.

 

110%, I mean, really.

Again Bill you miss the whole point of this thread. We are talking about whether osprey tastes like chicken, and what:\'s the big deal to have a couple of dead chicks are when you can get great shots of ospreys hauling back fish carcasses.

 

You are so preachy Bill. What made you boss?

 

Geesh.

Seriously, I have no plans to disturb nesting osprey.

 

I may be out of luck with my local nests, scouting 3 of them today revealed no large trees within a reasonable distance. The best I can do is to photograph them flying into the nests from a ground position, or from a slightly elevated position in a small tree.

 

Again, I plan on this setup at night, triggering the camera with pocketwizard multiMAX's. I won't remove the camera until nightfall.

 

I have a couple more leads, but doubt I can get elevation to the same level as the nests in my local area without significant disturbance to the birds.